Folding chair



April 21, 1953 R. M. GRAFFlus ET AL 2,635,676 l FOLDING CHAIR Filed Nov. l, 1951 INVENTORS M pn FFI us ROY JOHN R- GRHFFI U5 JIJ Le/r- Patented Apr. 21, Y`1953 FOLDING CHAIR Roy M. Graflius, Traord, and John R. Graius, Houtzdale, Pa.

Application November 1, 1951, Serial No. 254,232

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a folding chair, and while primarily designed and intended for the convenientI use of hunters, fishermen, campers, andthe like, it will be obvious that the chair may be employed for any other purposes wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a chair of the character described, which may be readily and conveniently suspended from a tree, pole, wall, or any other vertical support, which may be compactly collapsed .to facilitate its transportation and storage, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and eicient in its use, attractive in appearance, and comparatively economical in its manufacture.

With the foregoing and other `objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of constructionv may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figurel is a side elevational view of a folding chair, constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating the suspension of the chair from a vertical support.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the improved chair in the erected position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the chair in the collapsed position.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the chair in the collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of seat embodying the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved folding chair comprises a seat I, which has its rear end connected to the lower end of a back 2 by a pair of hinges 3. The hinges are secured `by screw bolts 4 as they must sustain considerable weight in the use of the chair when the latter is suspended from a supporting structure. e

A substantially U-shaped bracing frame 5 has the upper free ends thereof pivotally connected at the upper ends of respective side edges of the back 2 by means of a bolt 6, which extends through said upper ends of the bracing frame and is embedded in the upper edge of the back.

The bolt 6 is secured in position by a pair of substantially U-shaped straps 1, which overlap respective ends of the top edge of the back and respective ends of the bolt. The straps are permanently secured in position to the back 2, and each is formed with a recess 8, through which a hook 9 is pivotally connected to respective ends of the bolt.

A cleat I0 is fixed against the outer side of each of the vertical members of the bracing frame 5.A

The cleats are disposed intermediate of the lengths of said vertical members and in spaced parallel relation to the latter. A transversely eX- tending holding pin II is xed in each of the cleats and in the adjacent portion of respective vertical members of the bracing frame 5.

A side bar I2 is permanently secured against each side edge of the seat I and projects beyond the rear end of the latter. The free rear end of each of the side bars is formed with a substantially hook-shaped notch I3 which opens upwardly and is detachably engageable in respective cleats I0 and on respective holding pins II, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1, when the improved chair is in the erected position. A reenforcing rod I4 is xed in the projecting ends of the side bars I2 and is disposed adjacent to and inwardly of the notches I3.

To suspend the chair in the erectedposition for use, the free ends of the side bars I2 are inserted into the cleats I0 and the upwardly opening notches I3 are engaged on the holding pins II. The upper end of the bracing frame 5 is secured, together with the back 2, at the desired height to a tree trunk I5, or other supporting structure, by means of a rope I6, chain, or any other suitable type of flexible member. The rope surrounds the tree trunk and is secured to the hooks 9 to carry the chair in the erected suspended position. The bracing frame 5 extends a considerable distance below the seat I and the cross member of the bracing frame rests against the tree trunk, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

. To collapse the chair, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the back 2 is shifted on the hinges 3 to position the back flatly against the top surface of the seat I. Each side edge of the back is provided withv an automatically operable, spring controlled locking element Il, which is engageable in a countersunk aperture I 8 provided therefor in respective vertical members of the bracing frame 5. When the chair is in the collapsed position, the locking elements II engage in the apertures I8 and hold the bracing frame 5 in parallel relation to the back 2 until the locking elements are forcibly released from their engagement in the apertures. While the locking elements are engaged in the apertures, the separating movement of the seat l and back 2 s limited by the abutment of the reenforcing rod I4 against the bracing frame 5.

A loop member I9 is xed centrally on the inner side of the `cross member of the bracing frame for the reception of acarrying sling, orr the like, to properly and better balance the collapsed chair while the latter is being toted from place to place by the user.

It Will here be noted that, while the bracing frame 5 and the side bars l2 are herein illustrated as being constructed of metalstrap material, it Will be apparent that said bracing frame andside bars may be made from :angle iron or any other suitable structural shape Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of seat struct-u-re'-comprisinga-v seat, 20 .provided With a subst-antiallyE U-shaped, front leg: member 2-i@,

which.. is pivotally connected, as at 22, to a pairr of brackets 2S; which are secured Yagainst the underside, of the seat 2E). The sea-t 25B: is provided with. a1 pair. of. side` bar-s 24 which. project rearwardly beyond the rear end of saidl sea-t. rear free end of each of the side bars 24is formed With-,an upwardly opening notch25 and with a downwardly. Openingfnotch: 26.

When the chair with the vmodified:form of seat 202 is.- susp'ended -frompa vertical; support, the up- Wardly opening; notches. 25 ofi the side bars 25.. are

engaged; on the holding pins I1! carried by thev bracing frame `5 in thet manner herein before de,- scribed. When the chair is. to be used on a fiat. surfaoein the usual manner', the leg 2|` is projectedi, andV the downwardly: opening notches En; of ,the-side bar 24 are4 engaged on-:the holding pins shaped .bracing frame having: the lupper endsY thereof-.pivotall-y'connected at-the upper ends of4` thesidef.edgesI of said back; a pairfofside bars secured to respective side edges ofi said sea-t1 and; projecting beyond the rear endA of thelatter,. means'ffor-medat the rear-free-end of leach of said* bars. .for .detachab'lyi attaching the latter tosa-idf frame', .ai` .pair` of connecting elements pivotally connected at the uppervendofi saidI back, anda flexibleimember connecting withl saidelementsV and with; .thesupport: for suspending the chai-r from saidsupportY 2.. A foldingA chair for: suspensionwfrom= a vertical support,..c'ozn.prising .a`4 seat, a back having the' lower; end thereof. hingedly connected with: therear end. ofisaidseat` andi being foldable flatlyagainst thdiaen, a-,substantiall-y U--shaped bracingframehayingfthe =.upperY endsathereoff pivotaily The connected at the upper ends of respective side edges of said back and projecting a considerable distance below said seat, a pair of side bars secured at respective side edges of said seat and projecting beyond the rear end of the latter, interengaging means carried by said frame and by said bars for detachably attaching the rear free ends of said bars to said frame, a pair of connecting; elementspivotally connectedatithe upper end of said back, and a iiexible member connecting with said elements and with the support for suspending the chair from said support.

3. A folding chair for suspension from a vertical support, comprising a seat, a back hingedly connected with sai-d seat, a substantially U- shaped bracing frame having the upper ends thereof. pivotally connected at the upper ends of the side edges of said back and depending below said seat, a pair of side bars secured to respective side edges of said seat and projecting beyond the rear end of the lattenmeans formedat the; rear end of. eachV or" said. bars, for' detachably attach-,- ingthe latter to'said frame, a pair of connecting elements connected with ther upper end of said: back, a flexibleA member connecting, saidv elements. with the support, and a supporting leg pivotallyconnected adjacent tothe front end of said seat and being foldable against the underside of the latter.

ll. A folding chair for suspension from a vertical support comprising, in combination, a seat, a. back having the lower end` thereof hingedly connected with the rear end of said seat andv being folda'ble flatly against the top of the latter,

afsubstantially U-shaped bracing frame having;

the upper ends thereof pivotally connected at the upper end'sof respective sideedges of said back and projecting a considerable distance belowsaid: seat, means carried by saidv back and engagingv said frame for holding said Yframe vin parallel:` relation to said back when the chair in the;

folded` position, a pair of side bars secured .to

respective side edges of saidseat andY projecting.. beyond` the rear end of the lattera reenforcin/g': rodv secured to said. pair of side bars adjaoentto the free rear ends of the latter, interengaging means carried by said frame andI by said bars for detachably attaching the rear free en'ds of. said bars to said frame for securing the'chair'in the; erected' position,A a` pair' of.-V connecting' elements piviotallyv connected .fat the upper en'dolFv saidpb ci; at .respective` ends of. thetopedgezof said back, and a exible member for connecting said elements to the supporti` for .suspending'i the chair from theisupport.

. ROY IVI. GRAF??IUSi` JOHN R. GRAFeUS'E.

References Cited in the l'efof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 365,100 Nfo'ore Sept. 16, 1884. 1,491,144 Kondroik Apr. 22, 1924: 1,692'g93'0 Cummings ov. 27, 1928 784,390 Rice Dec. 9,1930..

FOREIGN PATENTS' Number-fV Country Date' 104,354 Austria Oct. 11, 192B`A 

